A Romanian hard-Right, pro-Putin candidate took the unexpected lead in the country’s presidential election in an unexpected outcome that threatens its staunchly pro-Ukraine stance.

With 99.9 per cent of the votes counted, Calin Georgescu, 62, who has no party of his own and campaigned largely on TikTok, had 22.9 per cent, while Elena Lasconi, the centre-Right contender, was second with 19.16 per cent.

The pair are set to face each other in a Dec 8 presidential run-off vote.

Ms Lasconi pushed ahead of Marcel Ciolacu, the Leftist prime minister, who was a clear favourite to win the first round, propelled by strong support from Romanian voters living abroad.

Some opinion polls had Mr Georgescu, who is a critic of Nato, running at around 5 per cent of the vote in the run-up to the election, after barely registering in earlier polls.